Design Technology

Design and Technology Intent

At St James Primary School, our design and technology curriculum prepares children for the developing world. We want them to become creative problem-solvers, both as individuals and as part of a team. The curriculum allows them to take risks so that they become resourceful, innovative, reflective and capable learners. The curriculum allows children to combine practical skills with an understanding of aesthetic, social and environmental issues, in order to design and make a product. Evaluation is an integral part of the design process and allows children to adapt and improve their product - a key skill for life. Design and technology helps all children to become discriminating and informed consumers and potential innovators.

Our curriculum aims to:

• Foster enjoyment, satisfaction and purpose in designing and making things;
• Develop creative, technical and imaginative thinking in children and to develop confidence and courage to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world;
• encourage children to select appropriate tools and techniques when making a product, whilst following safe procedures;
• Enable children to talk about how things work and to develop their technical knowledge;
• Encourage children to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products, and the work of others in an environment of respect;
• Develop an understanding of technological processes and products, their manufacture and their contribution to our society and the world. This opens up a range of career opportunities for our children, as they are then exposed to more practical workplaces.

Design and Technology Implementation

Our design and technology curriculum provides well-planned and resourced projects and experiences for children in school. It is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject, requiring creativity, resourcefulness, and imagination. Pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts and with links to other subjects, including mathematics, science, history, computing and art/design.

Children develop progressive and linked skills and techniques, always building on previous learning as they problem-solve, design, construct, test and evaluate different products.

All projects follow the cycle of: investigate, design, make and evaluate. This gives children opportunity to reflect on their designs and products and consider adaptations or improvements. The design brief is linked to another area of their learning or has relevance to the children as we believe this inspires imaginations and motivation to create and problem solve.

Safety is explained and modelled at the start of all projects, this includes food hygiene instructions where relevant.

Design and Technology Impact

Children will develop the creative, technical and practical expertise needed to perform everyday tasks confidently and to participate successfully in an increasingly technological world. They will build and apply a repertoire of knowledge, understanding and skills in order to design and make high-quality prototypes and products for a wide range of users. They will be able to critique, evaluate and test their ideas and products and the work of others. They will understand and apply the principles of nutrition and learn how to cook.

General

• Design and technology booklets – whole process from brief, initial idea, final design through to evaluation
• Classroom displays celebrating design and technology work/projects

Schemes of Work

• Range of projects including mechanisms, structures, electrical, cooking and nutrition and textiles

Experiences

• Practical/hands on learning
• Use of tools – health and safety